The Abundant Life: Riches money can’t buy…
The abundant life chooses to focus on what unites us rather than what divides us.
We live in a volatile, angry world. People are eager to find fault with every opinion that does not support theirs. This attitude exacerbates our differences with others and builds a gigantic cavern that cannot be bridged, which is what happens when we spend too much time focusing on what separates us rather than what unites us.
To make matters worse, some are not satisfied with tolerance or acceptance. They will not be happy until everyone believes exactly as they do and embraces their preferences as truth. Of course, they will never be happy because that isn’t going to happen. There will always be differing political, racial, and religious views.
Even within a group’s own perimeters, people don’t agree. Not all Republicans agree. Not all Democrats agree. Not all Afro Americans agree. Not all Latinos agree. Not all Christians agree. Not all non-Christians agree. There are always going to be things we don’t see eye to eye on with others. However, differences are not defects. Humans do have commonality if we look for it.
I remember an old Colin Raye song titled “Not That Different.” The singer is trying to convince someone he loves to focus on what they have in common rather than what separates them. The chorus goes something like: “I laugh, I love, I hope, I try, I hurt, I need, I fear, and I cry. And I know you do the same things, too. So we’re really not that different, me and you.”
Maybe it would be better if we focused on what unites us instead of what divides us. As Christians we should set an example in this, but many times we tend to focus on what divides us into denominations instead of what unites us with Christ’s love. Jesus made salvation available for all nationalities, all races, all genders, all political parties, all denominations—the rich or poor, the free or slave, the young or old—everyone!
Why did He do that? Could it be because we’re really not all that different? We all laugh, love, hope, try, hurt, need, fear, and cry.
God created us with various races, personalities, preferences, and backgrounds, but I don’t think His intent was to divide us. Perhaps His goal was for us to learn from and value those who are different from us. Together we can grow in understanding. But that will only happen if we tap into what God has made available to all—His love.
The abundant life knows the love of God in us is greater than the negative forces in the world. (1 John 4:4) The abundant life seeks to unite, not divide.
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“…I have come that they may have life and that they
may have it more abundantly.” ~John 10:10 (KJV)
